Klaasen Moves Into Top 100

JELLE KLAASEN'S run to the quarter-finals of the Thialf Darts Trophy on Sunday has moved him into the world's top 100 - and taken him a step closer to winning a place in the Stan James World Matchplay.

The Dutchman has made steady progress up the Order of Merit since joining the PDC in January.

His £600 prize money for reaching the last eight of Sunday's Thialf event saw him jump from 116th to 94th in the Order of Merit.

He also moved up to 22nd in the Players Championship Order of Merit table, comprised of money won in the Players Championship Pro Tour events.

The top eight players not already in the top 32 of the main Order of Merit at the end of November will qualify for the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.

More immediate in players' minds is that the top four players outside the world's top 28 following the two Players Championships at Hayling Island on 16 and 17 June will win a place in the World Matchplay.

They are currently Adrian Gray, Michael van Gerwen, Sean Palfrey and Klaasen, who now sits equal 22nd overall.

Matt Clark, Mervyn King, Steve Brown and Vincent van der Voort would currently occupy the next four places which earn a World Championship berth.

Roland Scholten's win in the Thialf Darts Trophy saw him move above Terry Jenkins to fifth in the main Order of Merit.

Dennis Priestley jumped above Wayne Mardle to eighth, and Barrie Bates moved ahead of Andy Jenkins into 14th.

The top 12 in the Order of Merit following the forthcoming Blue Square UK Open will qualify automatically for the Las Vegas Desert Classic.

John Part - the defending Desert Classic champion who currently occupies 12th place - is now £9,000 ahead of Ronnie Baxter, meaning he is likely to retain that place unless one of the players down to Denis Ovens in 20th place him win the £30,000 winner's cheque at Bolton.

Click here to see the PDC Order of Merit

Click here to see the Players Championship Order of Merit